CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Cincinnati Cyclones announced this morning that they have agreed to terms with forwards Jonathan Duchesneau and Mark Voakes for the 2009-10 season. The Cyclones are the ECHL affiliate for the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators.
Duchesneau (DOO-shuhn-oh), 22, played last season with Riviere-du-Loup (LNAH) and collected seven goals and ten assists for 17 points in 34 games. He also had a pair of assists in five playoff games. The third-year man launched his professional career with Flint (IHL) during 2007-08, notching three goals and 22 assists for 25 points in 58 games.
The five-foot-eight, 182 pound center played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with three different teams. He amassed 265 games in the QMJHL, tallying 85 goals and 141 assists for 226 points. During the 2006-07 campaign, he collected 87 points (twelfth in the league) on 29 goals and 58 assists in 69 games between Acadie-Bathurst and Drummondville. Jonathan had 53 multiple point games and ten multiple goal games in the QMJHL.
Voakes, 25, closed out his collegiate playing career at Wilfrid Laurier, netting 13 goals and 37 assists for 50 points. He was the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Most Valuable Player this past season, finished second among graduating seniors in Canadian University (CIS) scoring nationally and received his second straight First-Team All-OUA selection.
The six-foot, 180 pound center played in 102 career games at Wilfrid Laurier and netted 56 goals and 98 assists for 154 points to rank fourth on the Eagles all-time scoring list. A two-time team MVP, Mark also was named the OUA’s ‘Most Sportsmanlike Player’ in 2006-07. His postseason prowess was demonstrated by collecting 25 points (6-19-25) in 24 career postseason contests for Wilfrid Laurier.
“Jonathan Duchesneau and Mark Voakes come to us highly touted,” Cyclones Head Coach/Vice President of Hockey Operations Chuck Weber said. “Duchesneau was recommended to us by Guy Boucher (Hamilton Bulldogs coach) and Voakes is considered one of the best Canadian collegiate players and is a gifted offensive player. They both have excellent hockey backgrounds and we are looking forward to getting them on the ice with us this fall.”
The addition of Duchesneau and Voakes brings the number of players on the Cyclones roster to five. They join forward Barret Ehgoetz and defensemen Jamie Coghlan and Jason Woll.
Tickets for the 2009-10 Cincinnati Cyclones season are now on sale. The Cyclones Sales Department can be reached at 513-421-PUCK, extension 3. The Cyclones open the season at Elmira on Friday, October 16 and after three road games, host their home opener at U.S. Bank Arena against Wheeling on Saturday, October 24 at 7:30pm. There will be a special divisional championship banner raising ceremony prior to that game.
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